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HaidenGaming Feb 15, 2015 @ 5:44pm
Advertising Steam Groups
So having looked through many discussion posts prior to this one, many Steam users have asked why we can't advertise Steam Groups. I am attempting to set up an active gaming community with the use of the Steam Groups feature but I'm finding it difficult to attract the right members given the huge amount of groups created by others and the fact that advertising of any sort isn't allowed.

Surely Valve would want Steam members to be using all of their features, so it strikes me as odd and counter-productive for this to be the case.

If anyone could clarify this issue, I'd be very interested in hearing a good explanation.
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Showing 1-15 of 25 comments
76561193857876471 Feb 15, 2015 @ 5:47pm 
I don't think inviting someone on your friend's list to a group would violate a rule. I think spamming your friend with a large number of invites, or sending invites to random strangers would. That's my take on it anyways, I don't claim to speak for Steam.
#1
HaidenGaming Feb 15, 2015 @ 5:52pm 
I can easily invite my friends, that's not a problem. But wanting to grow a large community through a Steam Group obviously goes beyond inviting a few friends; it relies on some sort of advertisement which is banned on the Steam discussions even though (as I mentioned) it is Valve's own implemented feature of Steam...
#2
Falro the Great Feb 15, 2015 @ 5:53pm 
The way good groups are spread is through word-of-mouth. Tell your friends to tell their friends about the group. And over all, offer something unique.
#3
TirithRR Feb 15, 2015 @ 5:55pm 
It becomes very spammy. Everyone and their cousin wants to have their own Steam Group with 100s of users. So they all try to invite people. Just like clans and such.

In the end, the discussion forums are for other things, not recruiting. Allowing recruitment spam would clutter things.
#4
HaidenGaming Feb 15, 2015 @ 5:55pm 
@Falro the Great: Once again, I understand your point. My question however lies beyond this. Large groups and organisations spend thousands of pounds a year in advertising. If they could grow so big using word of mouth, they would... You're somewhat missing my point...

@TirithRR Yes I understand this, but surely a dedicated discussion thread for advertising groups could easily keep people from cluttering other discussions. Its not exactly hard to do...
Last edited by HaidenGaming; Feb 15, 2015 @ 5:56pm
#5
Falro the Great Feb 15, 2015 @ 5:57pm 
Originally posted by thegamingeng:
Once again, I understand your point. My question however lies beyond this. Large groups and organisations spend thousands of pounds a year in advertising. If they could grow so big using word of mouth, they would... You're somewhat missing my point...
There are plenty of places you can advertise. Just not the Steam Discussions.
#6
HaidenGaming Feb 15, 2015 @ 5:58pm 
Why wouldn't Valve allow Steam members to advertise one of THEIR OWN FEATURES. This is the point i'm making.
#7
Falro the Great Feb 15, 2015 @ 5:59pm 
Originally posted by thegamingeng:
Why wouldn't Valve allow Steam members to advertise one of THEIR OWN FEATURES. This is the point i'm making.
They do allow you to advertise. Just not on the Discussions. This is not a place for advertisment.
#8
TirithRR Feb 15, 2015 @ 6:00pm 
Originally posted by thegamingeng:
@TirithRR Yes I understand this, but surely a dedicated discussion thread for advertising groups could easily keep people from cluttering other discussions. Its not exactly hard to do...

So just post recruitment spam in your own group discussion forums :). Ya, people wouldn't visit it... but people wouldn't visit a discussion forum dedicated to recruitment spam either.

See, the issue is, these recruitment messages want to be posted in places people visit for reasons other than recruitment. Because those seeking recruitment make up a small portion of the discussion visitors. But the people doing the recruiting want to advertise to more than just those seeking recruitment.

A secluded forum dedicated to recruit spam would not serve the purpose of recruitment messages very well.
Last edited by TirithRR; Feb 15, 2015 @ 6:01pm
#9
HaidenGaming Feb 15, 2015 @ 6:00pm 
It's not like i'm advertising a third party product though, I'm advertising something that Valve has given me to use but then renders it useless within it's own program.
#10
HaidenGaming Feb 15, 2015 @ 6:02pm 
I would disagree with your point TirithRR. There are many other sectors of industries whereby blogs and such have large followings for people just simply looking for other blogs (for example). This system of Steam Groups isn't too disimilar to this but the system for allowing members to find their desired groups just isn't in place.
Last edited by HaidenGaming; Feb 15, 2015 @ 6:02pm
#11
TirithRR Feb 15, 2015 @ 6:03pm 
Originally posted by thegamingeng:
I would disagree with your point TirithRR. There are many other sectors of industries whereby blogs and such have large followings for people just simply looking for other blogs. This system of Steam Groups isn't too disimilar to this but the system for allowing members to find their desired groups just isn't in place.

So make a group dedicated to advertising groups. And open the discussions there to all groups wishing to advertise. Problem solved :)
#12
HaidenGaming Feb 15, 2015 @ 6:03pm 
And how would people find that group if I can't advertise it... Good logic there.
#13
TirithRR Feb 15, 2015 @ 6:04pm 
Originally posted by thegamingeng:
And how would people find that group if I can't advertise it... Good logic there.

Gotta start somewhere. Want something, work for it.
Last edited by TirithRR; Feb 15, 2015 @ 6:04pm
#14
HaidenGaming Feb 15, 2015 @ 6:04pm 
Well thanks for the great input to my problem.
#15
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Date Posted: Feb 15, 2015 @ 5:44pm
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